Furniture



' W. H. BEAN.

FURNITURE.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

Mmmra;

NITED STATES PATENT l FFICE.

\VILLIAM II. BEAN, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FURNITURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,017, dated February 4, 1896.

Application filed January 22, 1894. Serial No. 497,584. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. BEAN, of Somerville, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Articles of Furniture, of Which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to articles of furniture comprising fixed and adjustable members, the invention being especially applicable to articles of furniture known as couches, in which the arms are made adjustable to vary their inclination and height with relation to the seat.

In carrying out my invention I employ two ratchet-plates provided with laterally-bevcled ratchetteeth which are applied to one of the members of the couch, and co-operating with these ratchet-teeth I employ two pivoted pawls attached to the other member of the couch and movable laterally into and out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth of their respective plates, suitable means being provided for moving these pawls simultaneously in the same direction from either side of the couch, or from any other desired point, as may be found desirable.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents in end elevation a couch embodying my invention, the upholstering being omitted. Fig. 2 is a section on the line so a looking to the left, and Figs. 3 and 4 details showing the ratchetplates in edge view on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, A represents part of the frame of a'usual couch supported upon legs A A, only two of which are herein shown, said frame constituting the fixed member of the couch.

At opposite sides of the frame A A and at one end I secure two pivot-blocks a a, which, however, may be integral with the frame if desired.

In the construction herein shown I secure to the inner faces of the pivot-blocks a a ratchet-plates I) b, the plate I) having a curved lip provided along its edge with a series of ratchet-teeth b the plate I) being provided along its curved periphery with a series of ratchet-teeth b By reference to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be noticed that the ratchet-teeth of the two plates are beveled in the same direction, and that the beveled faces are at the sides of the teeth and not at the tops thereof. (See Fig. 2, which shows the square tops of the teeth.)

The plates 1) 1) near their upper edges are provided with holes to receive the pivots c a, (see dotted lines, Figs; 1 and 2,) projecting outwardly from the outer sides of the brackets d d, secured to the inner faces of the side arms D D of the arm of the couch, which arm constitutes the adjustable member of the couch, said pivots thereby constituting pivots for and about which said arm or member may be adjusted.

The brackets d cl are provided with two long ribs or ears cl d, which serve as guides for the pawls e e, pivoted at e 6 between the ears or ribs of the respective brackets. The lower ends of the pawls e e cooperate respectively with the ratchet-teeth b b on the plates 1) Z), said pawls swinging upon their pivots laterally into and out of engagement with the said teeth. The upper ends of the pawls e 9, preferably prolonged sufficiently to reach to the upper end of the adjustable member or arm, are shown as jointedto and joined by connections f, (shown as a rod having its opposite ends suitably formed or shaped to pass under or, if desired, through the side bars of said arm to furnish means for moving the pawls from either side of the couch,) said rod, as herein shown, having one of its ends fitted with a knob f and its opposite end with a ring f but instead of the particular form of connection shown said pawls may be connected in any other suitable or desired manner so far as this invention is concerned. Springs 8 5, attached to the side bars of the arm, act upon and press the pawls normally to one side to retain them in looking engagement with their respective ratchetteeth.

The arm D is normally sustained in adjusted position by engagement of its pawls with the ratchet-teeth b Z). (See Fig. 2.)

-When it is desired to change the inclination or position of the arm, the rod f is moved to the right, Fig. 1, to thereby turn both pawls upon their pivots into their dotted-line positions, such movement of the said pawls carrying the lower locking ends of the same out from engagement with the teeth of their respective ratchet-plates, thereby enabling the arm of the couch to be dropped to the desired posi- 1 tion, the springs s s returning the pawls immediately again into their locking positions upon release of the rod f, thereby locking the i arm in its new position.

The arm may be raised without first moving the rod f, for the beveled faces of the ratchetteeth cause the pawls to be turned laterally to thereby automatically click past the teeth as the arm is raised, the said pawls locking the said arm in its raised position.

If desired, the rod f may be moved by a single knob or device f at the middle of its length.

By reason of the peculiarly-constructed ratchet-plates which permit the ratchet-teeth of both series to be beveled at the same side I am enabled to connect both pawls in the simplest possible manner, so that both may be moved from either side of the arm by a single movement. It will be noticed that both pawls at their lower ends swing to the left for disengagement from their respective teeth and to the right for engagement with said teeth.

The extreme simplicity of the adjusting devices and the ease and accuracy of operation render an article of furniture or couch equipped as shown much more desirable than any other 110w known to me.

The rounded ends d" of the pivot-blocks a (a co-operate with the correspondingly-ooncaved ends of the side bars of the arm, presenting a neat and attractive appearance in whatever adjusted position the arm may be placed.

My invention is not restricted to the particular construction herein shown, for the same may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Vhile I have herein shown and described my invention as applied to a couch, yet my invention is equally applicable to other arti cles of furniture which comprise fixed and adjustable members, my invention providing for improved devices for rctainin the adj ustable members of such devices in adjusted position, as claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. In an article of furniture of the class described comprising a fixed and an adjustable member, the combination with two series of ratchet-teeth attached to one of said members, of two pawls pivoted to the other of said. members and arranged to swing simultaneously in the same direction for lateral engagement with the said ratchet-teeth, and means to move said pawls, substantially as described.

2. In an article of furniture of the class described comprising a fixed and an adjustable member, the combination with two plates 1) and I) attached to said fixed member and provided respectively with ratchet-teeth I)", l), the former set out from said plate to leave space for a pawl between them and said plate,

of two pawls pivotally attached to the said i adjustable member and adapted to swing laterally into and out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth, and a single operating device connecting said pawls, whereby the latter may be moved in simultaneously in the same direction, substantially as described.

3. In an article of furniture of the class described comprising a fixed and an adjustable member, the combination with two series of ratchet-teeth attached to and at opposite sides of one of said members, the beveled faces of said ratchet'teeth facing in the same direction, of two pawls pivotally attached to opposite sides of the other of said members and adapted to swing laterally into and out of engagement with the said ratchet-teeth, and a single operating device to move said pawls in unison, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed in y name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM II. BEAN.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, Jon): I). EDwARDs. 

